Is there is diatomic molcule thing in a compound, does it have to exist as 2 atoms in the compound?

Question

Is there is diatomic molcule thing in a compound, does it have to exist as 2 atoms in the compound?

Answer 1

H2O could (should?) be written as HOH, but the convention is to write all the same elements that are "equivalent" in the molecule as a "sum", subscript. Consider CH3CH(CH3)2 which is easy to visualize, but can be written C4H10. Is this carbon with 5 moles of H2 imbedded per 4 moles of carbon atoms? Not likely. There are SOME carbons that could hold H2 in them: bucky balls and closd-end carbon nanotubes.

Answer 2

A diatomic molecule (such as Cl2, O2 etc) doesn't have to exist as 2 atoms in a compound. Water known as H20 only has one oxygen atom(even though oxygen forms a diatomic covelent bond). However, the balance equation reads-

4(H) + O2 = 2(H20)

This is because the oxygen reactant is diatomically bonded, but then the covalent bond is broken and it reforms a new compound.

Answer 3

Yes and No depending on the Compound.

As free gases, Hydrogen and Oxygen exist as 'Di-atomic' molecules, H2 and O2.

H2 is (2 x H(1+)) needed with SO4(2-) to form Sulphuric acid H2SO4.

KOH is Potassium hydroxide. Here both the Oxygen and Hydrogen, are combined into a 'hydroxyl group 'OH' as, mono-atomic K(1+), + monoatomic O(2-) + monoatomic H(1+). (K-O-H).

Answer 4

No.  Diatomic molecules (H2, N2, O2, F2 ...) are not diatomic in more complex molecules.  Consider water, H2O.  It's coincidental that the hydrogen in H2O is H2, but there is only one oxygen.